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ADDRESS 


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WILLIAM    CLAFLIN, 


TO    THE    TWO    BRANCHES 


Xogislatupe  of  J||amohugettg, 


JJJfU^RY  7,  1871. 


BOSTON: 

W  I{  r  r,  H  T    &    POTTER,    STATE    PRINTERS. 

7!)   MlI,K   STKKKT  (COKNK.n  OK   Fkdkrai.)- 

1S71. 


:</-G>gnM4 


SENATE No.  1. 


A  D  D  E  E  S  S 


lis  l%ttMq 

WILLIAM    CLAFLIN, 

TO  THE  TWO  BRANCHES 


LEGISLATURE   OF  MASSACHUSETTS, 


January  7,  1871. 


BOSTON: 

WRIGHT    &    POTTER,   STATE  PRINTERS,    79    MILK    STREET, 
(Corner  op  Fbdbral  Strect.) 

1871. 


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ADDRESS. 


Gentlemen  of  the  Senate,  and  of 

the  House  of  Representatives: 

The  people,  in  accordance  with  the  Constitution 
and  laws,  have  confided  to  your  care  the  great 
interests  of  this  honored  Commonwealth  for  the 
coming  year,  so  far  as  they  are  to  be  affected  by 
legislative  action.  A  gracious  Providence  has 
brought  us  together  at  a  time  when  our  State  is 
signally  favored  in  all  those  things  which  tend  to 
elevate  a  people,  and  we  should  be  ungrateful 
indeed,  did  we  fail,  on  our  assembling,  to  thank 
Him  whose  care  has  been  so  constant  in  the  past, 
and  to  ask  His  continued  blessing  upon  ourselves 
and  the  people  we  represent,  in  the  future. 

Two  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  our  fathers 
came  to  these  shores  to  enjoy  the  rights  of  con- 
science in  freedom.  They  laid  the  foundations  of 
the  State  on  immutable  principles. 


4  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

N^o  selfish  aims  were  suffered  to  influence  their 
action,  but,  in  faith  of  a  glorious  future  for  their 
descendants,  they  toiled  and  suffered  to  establish 
firmly  in  organic  laws,  liberty,  morality  and  religion 
as  the  true  bases  of  an  enlightened  and  prosperous 
Commonwealth. 

How  wisely  they  judged  as  to  what  would  in  the 
end  secure  to  a  people  the  greatest  degree  of  com- 
fort and  happiness,  may  be  seen  in  the  material 
wealth  which  is  gathered  in  our  populous  cities  and 
thriving  villages,  in  the  public  improvements  which 
are  conspicuous  on  every  side,  in  the  noble  system 
of  popular  education  established  by  law  and  sup- 
ported by  taxation,  in  the  institutions  for  higher 
intellectual  improvement,  which  are  fostered  by  the 
public  spirit  and  sustained  by  the  beneficence  of 
the  people,  and  above  all  in  that  broad  Christian 
charity  which  seeks  to  alleviate  every  form  of 
suffering  to  which  humanity  is  liable,  whether 
from  fault  or  misfortune. 

I  call  your  attention,  first,  to  our 

The  policy  of  finance  adopted  by  the  Legislature 
and  faithfully  adhered  to  by  those  charged  with  its 
administration,  has  produced  economy  in  expendi- 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  6 

ture  and  fully  sustained  the  credit  of  the  State  at 
home  and  abroad.  The  general  prosperity  of  the 
Commonwealth  renders  certain  the  accumulation  of 
her  established  sinking  funds  which  now  amounts 
yearly  to  more  than  a  million  of  dollars.  The 
assurance  of  present  and  future  ability  for  the 
prompt  liquidation  of  the  principal  of  all  exist- 
ing liabilities,  without  recourse  to  taxation  is 
very  gratifying. 

The  Funded  Debt, 

For  the  purpose  of  convenient  reference,  may  be 
thus  classified: — 

Loans       to       Railroad       Corpora- 
tions,    .        .  ■     .  19,483,920  00 
War  loans,        .        .  16,573,244  00 
Ordinary  loans,  .     1,070,000  00 

Total,        .        . 127,127,164  00 

The  Unfunded  Deht. 

Temporary  loans,      .     |582,728  16 

Balance  due  Baring 
Bros.  &  Co.,  .       356,989  77 

Certificates  of  indebt- 
edness issued  to  W. 
&  F.  Shanly,  .        200,000  00 


6  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

Deposit  loan,     .         .         |3,000  00 

Total,        .        . 11,442,717  93 

Making  the  total  Funded  and 

Unfunded  Debt,    .        .         $28,269,881  93 


The  Sinking  Funds  for  the  redemption  of  this 
debt  now  amount  to  more  than  $15,000,000. 

During  the  past  year  the  funded  debt  has  been 
increased,  by  the  issue  of  a  new  loan  for  harbor 
improvements  of  $230,000,  and,  early  in  the  year, 
by  the  issue  of  scrip  to  the  Boston,  Hartford  & 
Erie  Railroad  Company  of  $206,184,  and  reduced 
by  payment  of  the  Western  Railroad  loan  of 
$2,381,280,  the  Eastern  Railroad  of  $75,000,  the 
Consolidation  of  the  Statutes  loan  of  $150,000, 
and  the  loan  of  1861  of  $99,000,— 

Showing  a  decrease  in  the  Funded 
debt  of, $2,269,096  00 

Adding  thereto  decrease  in  Unfund- 
ed debt, 283,402  09 


Total  net  decrease,   .         .        .  $2,552,498  09 

Another  reduction  of  the  funded  debt  will  be 
made  the  present  year,  by  the  payment  of  the 


1871.]  senate—No.  i.  7 

Western  Railroad  loan,  amounting  to  $761,816; 
balance  of  the  Eastern  Railroad  loan  amounting  to 
150,000;  and  of  $200,000  of  the  Union  Fund 
(War)  loan— in  all,  $1,011,816.  Full  provision 
for  these  payments  has  already  been  made. 

Productive  Resources, 

The  resources  of  the  Commonwealth  directly 
applicable,  under  existing  laws,  to  the  redemption 
of  her  debt,  are  ample  for  that  purpose.  I  append 
hereto  a  statement  of  their  par  and  market  values, 
as  follows: — 

Par  value. 
Debt  Extinguishment 

Fund,  .  .  .  $605,400  00 
Union  Loan  Sinking 

Fund,  .  .  .  3,600,000  00 
Bounty  Loan  Sinking 

Fund,  .  .  .  2,488,259  21 
Mass.     War      Loan 

Sinking  Fund,  .  1,835,803  66 
Coast  Defence  Loan 

Sinking  Fund,  .  425,690  79 
Almshouse  Loan 

Sinking  Fund,       .        164,514  44 


8  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

Back      Bay     Lands 

Fund,  .  .  .  $220,000  00 
Troy  &  Greenfield  K. 

R.   Loan    Sinking 

Fund,  .  .  .  655,640  81 
Boston,   Hartford   & 

Erie  R.  R.   Loan 

Sinking  Fund,  .  659,196  38 
Western  R.  R.  Loan 

Sinking  Fund,  .  761,816  00 
Norwich  &  Worces- 
ter Railroad  Loan 

Sinking  Fund,       .       286,546  15 

Total,        .        . 111,702,867  44 

Market  value. 
Present  market  value,  f  12,565,642  00 
To    this    should    be 

added  unsold  Back 

Bay  lands,  .  .  1,500,000  00 
Land  sold  Boston  & 

Albany      Railroad 

Company,  .  .  435,000  00 
Unsettled         claims 

against  the  United 

States,  estimated  at       300,000  00 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  9 

Proceeds  of  land 
sales  pledged  for 
the  redemption  of 
the  Harbor  Im- 
provement loan,     .      1230,000  00 

Total    present  value, $15,030,642  00 

Excluding  the  Western,  and  IS'orwich  and  Wor- 
cester Railroad  Sinking  Funds,  which  are  fully  suf- 
ficient for  the  payment  of  the  loans  for  which  they 
are  held,  the  aggregate  accumulation  to  the  remain- 
ing funds,  at  their  par  value,  indicates  an  increase 
of  nearly  one  million  three  hundred  thousand 
dollars  during  the  year  1870.  The  legitimate 
income  of  these  funds,  even  at  a  much  smaller 
percentage  of  increase  will,  with  their  principal, 
relieve  the  treasury  from  all  embarrassment  on 
account  of  present  State  loans,  most  of  which 
have  from  sixteen  to  thirty  years  to  run  before 
maturity. 

The  loan  of  $230,000  is  to  be  reimbursed  with 
interest  from  the  proceeds  of  sales  of  land  pur- 
chased under  authority  of  the  Act  creating  the 
loan. 

No  further  addition  has  been  made  to  the  funded 
loan  in  aid  of  the  Troy  and  Greenfield  Railroad  and 

2 


10  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

Hoosac  Tunnel.  The  scrip  thus  far  issued  amounts 
to  14,673,070,  which  is  due  from  1888  to  1894. 
There  is  now  chargeable  to  the  loan,  to  be  reim- 
bursed to  the  issue  of  scrip,  $1,564,279,  making 
the  entire  sum  paid  by  the  Commonwealth  for  this 
enterprise  $6,237,359,  exclusive  of  interest  accrued 
in  1870.  The  sinking  fund  established  for  the 
redemption  of  the  loan  amounts  to  $655,642,  par 
value;  its  market  value  being  about  $3,000  more. 

The  Boston,  Hartford  and  Erie  Railroad  Loan 
(a  five  per  cent,  sterling  loan),  stands  at  $3,599,- 
024,  maturing  in  the  year  1900.  The  sinking  fund 
provided  for  its  redemption  now  amounts  to 
$659,219,  which,  with  its  legitimate  income  for 
thirty  years,  will  doubtless  secure  the  State 
against  further  liability  on  account  of  the  princi- 
pal. The  interest  on  this  loan,  now  paid  from  the 
ordinary  revenue,  may  be  reimbursed  in  part  from 
the  proceeds  of  the  "  Berdell  Mortgage  Bonds," 
if  from  no  oth^r  source. 

The  loan  of  $356,989  from  the  Messrs.  Barings, 
will  be  eventually  merged  in  the  funded  loans  on 
whose  account  its  proceeds  have  been  used,  and 
will  thereby  become  chargeable  to  the  sinking 
funds  created  for  their  payment. 

The  unsold  Back  Bay  lands   are   estimated  in 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  11 

the  foregoing  statement  at  their  average  minimum 
value  ($1,500,000).  It  is  reasonable  to  anticipate 
an  increase  in  this  amount. 

It  will  be  seen  from  this  statement  that,  deduct- 
ing the  sinking  funds  and  other  resources  set 
apart  for  the  payment  of  the  public  debt,  the 
indebtedness  of  the  State  amounts  to  |13,269,- 
881.93.  Within  the  last  eight  j^ears  more  than 
twelve  millions  of  dollars  have  been  paid  for  the 
relief  of  disabled  soldiers  and  their  families  and 
the  families  of  the  slain.  In  addition  to  this,  more 
than  sixteen  millions  ($16,000,000)  of  dollars 
have  been  paid  in  bounties  to  soldiers  since  1861. 
Surely  no  one  will  complain  of  the  burden  of  the 
debt  when  so  large  a  part  of  it  has  been  con- 
tracted for  the  relief  of  those  patriotic  men  and 
their  suffering  families. 

Finance  for  the  present  year. 

The  ordinary  expenditures  for  the 

present  year  are  estimated  at  .  $4,700,000  00 

The     ordinary    revenue     from  all 

sources  may  be  stated  at       .  .    2,200,000  00 


Showing  a  deficiency  of    .        .  $2,500,000  00 


12  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

In  the  above  estimate  there  is  no  provision  for 
reducing  the  temporary  loans  made  to  pay  for  work 
on  the  Hoosac  Tunnel,  in  anticipation  of  the  sale  of 
scrip,  from  which  the  Treasury  will  be  reimbursed. 

This  statement  shows  that  a  tax  of  two  and  a 
half  millions  of  dollars  will  be  necessary,  unless  the 
tax  on  savings  banks  should  be  increased  to  one 
per  cent.,  as  recommended  elsewhere,  in  which  case 
the  State  tax  may  be  reduced  to  two  millions  of 
dollars. 

HOOSAC    TUNNEL. 

This  enterprise  has  now  been  in  the  hands  of 
the  contractors  one  year  and  nine  months.  The 
progress  for  the  first  year  was  slow,  as  the  ma- 
chinery was  imperfect,  and  the  contractors,  though 
accustomed  to  large  public  works,  were  inexperi- 
enced in  tunnelling  on  an  extensive  scale.  For  a 
long  time  they  could  not  obtain  enough  laborers 
to  man  the  works  as  fully  as  they  desired,  but  for 
the  last  six  months  there  has  been  no  difficulty 
in  obtaining  as  many  as  they  could  employ  to 
advantage,  and  the  progress  made  is  much  more 
satisfactory.  The  central  shaft  is  now  finished 
down  to  the  grade,  and  the  contractors  are 
working  from  that  both  ways,  though  as  yet,  for 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  13 

the  want  of  machinery,  they  are  unable  to  make 
great  progress.  Thus  far  there  seems  to  be  no 
serious  obstacle  to  an  early  completion  of  the 
tunnel, — certainly  sooner  than  the  stipulations  in 
the  contract  require.  The  contractors  have  per- 
formed their  work  generally  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  engineers  in  charge  of  the  tunnel  under 
the  authority  of  the  State.  The  line  has  been 
carefully  examined  recently,  so  that  no  reason- 
able doubt  can  be  entertained  that  the  position 
of  the  central  shaft  is  correct,  and  that  the 
headings  will  meet  and  form  a  continuous  tunnel 
in  a  straight. line  from  end  to  end. 

The  amount  of  work  performed  by  the  con- 
tractors, Messrs.  W.  &  F.  Shanly,  is  |1,248, 184.13, 
and  the  amount  paid  to  them  is  $740,047.31,  and 
the  reserve,  held  as  security  for  the  faithful  per- 
formance of  the  contract,  amounts  to  $508,136.82. 

The  amount  to  be  paid  them  will  increase  each 
month  until  the  contract  is  completed,  as  prog- 
ress from  the  four  faces  will  be  at  least  one- 
third  greater  than  has  been  attainable  up  to  this 
time,  working  from  only  two.  The  whole  length 
of  the  tunnel  now  opened  is  thirteen  thousand 
six  hundred  and  twenty-two  (13,622)  feet,  or 
very  nearly  two   and   seven-twelfths  (2y^2)  "liles. 


14  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

The  distance  remaining  is  eleven  thousand  four 
hundred  and  nine  (11,409)  feet,  or  very  nearly 
two  and  two-twelfths  (2^2^)  miles. 

To  all  who  have  had  knowledge  of  the  obsta- 
cles which  have  been  overcome  since  the  enter- 
prise was  commenced,  there  seems  to  be  very 
little  doubt  of  its  speedy  completion.  That  the 
public  need  this  new  avenue  very  few  question. 
Our  railroads  leading  to  the  interior  cannot,  or 
have  not,  kept  pace  in  their  improvements  with 
the  increasing  demands  for  new  and  enlarged 
facilities  made  by  the  growing  business  of  the 
State.  As  the  opening  of  this  avenge  becomes  a 
certainty,  greater  accommodations  will  be  needed 
by  the  connecting  railroads,  and  they  cannot  make 
too  early  preparation  for  the  increased  traffic.  The 
State  has  a  very  large  direct  interest  in  the  early 
development  of  this  through  line,  and  should 
give  every  facility  that  is  needed  to  accomplish 
the  object.  Some  have  been  disposed  to  question 
the  ultimate  value  of  the  line  in  direct  returns  to 
the  treasury,  because  the  people  of  other  States 
have  been  made  to  suffer  heavy  direct  losses 
from  the  want  of  wisdom  and  faithfulness  in  the 
managers  of  these  public  enterprises.  We  con- 
fidently  hope  for  more    care   and  fidelity   in   the 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  15 

management  of  this  work,  by  which  the  treasury- 
will  ultimately  be  reimbursed  for  this  outlay. 
But  if  it  should  be  otherwise,  the  indirect  ad- 
vantage will  far  exceed  and  outweigh  the  amount 
of  money  expended. 

The  last  Legislature  appropriated  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars  for  repairing  the  injuries  to  the 
Troy  and  Greenfield  Railroad  caused  by  the 
freshet  of  October,  1869.  The  work  has  been 
done  under  the  superintendence  of  experienced 
engineers,  who  have  taken  every  possible  precau- 
tion to  prevent  a  recurrence  of  the  disaster.  The 
road  and  bridges  are  in  much  better  condition 
than  ever  before,  the  appropriation  having  been 
judiciously  and  economically  expended. 

THE     BOSTOliT,     HAETFORD     AND      ERIE     RAILROAD 
COMPAWr. 

Soon  after  the  adjournment  of  the  last  Legisla- 
ture the  supreme  court  placed  the  property  of  the 
Boston,  Hartford  and  Erie  Railroad  Company  in 
the  hands  of  receivers,  after  a  careful  and  pro- 
tracted hearing,  which  demonstrated  that  that  cor- 
poration was  hopelessly  insolvent.  I  am  informed 
that  suits  have  been  instituted  in  other  States  under 
which  some  of  its  rolling  stock  and  other  property 


16  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

have  been  sold.  Yarious  suits  are  pending  in 
regard  to  its  franchises  and  property,  involving 
questions  of  much  interest  to  the  Commonwealth, 
which  holds  more  than  three  and  a  half  millions  of 
dollars  of  its  bonds.  The  State  has  loaned  it  about 
three  million  six  hundred  thousand  dollars,  but  this 
amount  is  properly  reduced  by  the  sinking  fund  to 
about  three  millions  of  dollars.  For  this  indebted- 
ness the  Commonwealth  holds  as  security: — 

First,  The  obligation  of  the  company  to  pay  the 
bonds  issued  by  the  State,  at  maturity. 

Second,  Three  million  six  hundred  thousand 
dollars  of  Berdell  mortgage  bonds. 

Third,  A  second  mortgage  on  all  the  lands  pur- 
chased of  the  State  and  of  the  Boston  "Wharf  Com- 
pany at  South  Boston  by  the  Boston,  Hartford  and 
Erie  Railroad  Company. 

On  the  15th  day  of  IS^ovember  last,  the  Boston 
Wharf  Company,  in  accordance  with  their  agree- 
ment with  the  State,  gave  notice  that  they  were 
about  to  foreclose  their  mortgage.  This  notice 
must  be  served  nine  months  prior  to  any  sale  in 
behalf  of  the  Boston  Wharf  Company.  '  Some 
action,  therefore,  must  be  taken  by  the  Legislature 
to  preserve  the  rights  of  the  Commonwealth  in  this 
valuable  property,  as   the   Treasurer  has   now  no 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  17 

authority  to  pay  the  interest  or  principal  of  this 
underlying  mortgage.  This  mortgage  was  given 
to  secure  the  payment  of  one  million  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  and  covers  about  twenty-six  acres 
of  filled  land,  now  in  the  hands  of  the  receivers,  and 
used  by  them  for  the  business  of  the  road;  and  also 
about  twenty-three  acres  of  flats  on  which  a  very 
considerable  expenditure  has  been  made  in  prepa- 
ration for  filling  as  stipulated '  by  the  Harbor  Com- 
missioners. This  land,  amounting  to  nearly  fifty 
acres,  lying  on  the  east  side  of  Fort  Point  Channel, 
cannot  fail  to  become  very  valuable  hereafter  for 
the  use  of  the  several  railroads,  whose  merchandise 
depots  could  be  located  there  with  great  advantage 
to  them  and  also  to  the  general  wants  of  the 
public.  That  the  property  will  be  worth  far  more 
than  the  mortgage  and  interest  belonging  to  the 
Boston  Wharf  Company,  long  before  the  bonds 
loaned  to  the  corporation  by  the  State  shall  fall  due, 
I  cannot  doubt,  and  I  earnestly  recommend  an  early 
examination  of  the  subject  in  order  that  some 
arrangement  may  be  made  with  the  Boston  Wharf 
Company,  or  else  an  appropriation  be  made  to 
save  the  property  to  the  State.  If  a  favorable  turn 
in  the  affiiirs  of  the  Boston,  Hartford  and  Erie 
Kaih'oad  Company  takes  place,  that  corporation  or 

3 


18  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

its  successors  will  need  a  large  proportion  of  the 
land,  and  the  State  may  be  more  ready  than  any 
private  owner  to  favor  the  corporation.  The  early 
completion  of  the  road  is  most  desirable,  and  no 
doubt  the  work  will  be  resumed  as  soon  as  the 
courts  are  able  to  unravel  its  complicated  affairs, 
and  to  give  the  rightful  owners  possession. 

If  there  is  any  way  by  which  the  State  can  assist 
responsible  parties  to  fill  the  flats  mortgaged  to  the 
State,  it  may  be  best  to  do  so,  but  no  other  aid 
should  be  given  this  enterprise,  which  doubtless  will 
be  completed  by  parties  holding  bonds,  and  other- 
wise interested  in  the  future  success  of  the  enter- 
prise. 

The  States  of  Khode  Island  and  Connecticut  are 
deeply  interested  in  the  completion  of  the  road. 
They  cannot  fail  to  receive  great  benefit  from  its 
intimate  connection  with  the  coal-fields  and  the 
great  market  of  the  West.  If  public  credit  is  to  be 
again  asked,  these  States  should  be  appealed  to,  and 
if  they  still  refuse  assistance  and  this  route  is  not 
opened,  their  citizens  will  have  no  occasion  to 
charge  Massachusetts  with  inaction.  In  fact,  we 
may  well  pause  before  aiding  this  company  any 
more,  if  it  is  not  thought  worth  assisting  by  those 
States,  which  are  certainly  to  receive  as  many  if 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  19 

not  more  benefits  fi'om  its  construction  than  our 
own.  The  trustees  under  the  Berdell  mortgage 
have  taken  no  steps  to  obtain  possession  of  the 
road,  for  the  reason  that  no  party  has  placed  funds 
in  their  hands  to  pay  counsel  fees,  and  other  neces- 
sary expenses  which  are  incident  to  the  trust.  The 
Commonwealth  should  furnish  its  share  of  this  out- 
lay in  connection  with  other  parties  who  hold  these 
securities.  Many  of  the  bondholders  are  ready  to 
contribute,  but  seem  to  be  waiting  for  the  State  to 
take  action,  feeling,  probably,  that  unless  the  larger 
holders  are  ready  to  furnish  their  proportion,  what 
they  would  subscribe  would  be  of  little  use.  If  the 
State  subscribes  its  share  of  the  funds  necessary, 
they  will  readily  follow,  and  the  trustees  will  be 
able  to  proceed  according  to  the  terms  of  the  trust. 
There  seems  to  be  no  other  practicable  way  to 
bring  the  property  into  a  position  that  will  enable 
the  parties  concerned  to  finish  the  road.  That 
course  is  agreeable  to  the  conditions  of  the  mort- 
gage and  in  accordance  with  usage  in  all  such 
trusts.  Doubtless  tiiis  will  appear  to  be  unfavor- 
able to  those  persons  having  claims  against  the 
corporation,  but  they  can  have  little  hope  of  receiv- 
ing anything  under  the  present  receivership,  which, 
at  best,  is  intended  to  be  only  temporary.     It  may 


20  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

be  wise  to  give  the  trustees  power  to  compromise 
such  claims  as  appear  to  be  just,  in  any  way  not 
inconsistent  with  due  regard  to  the  interests  of  the 
bondholders. 

RAILROADS. 

The  report  of  the  Railroad  Commissioners  will 
be  found  to  contain  a  great  variety  of  sugges- 
tions and  details,  the  interest  of  which,  to  the 
people  of  the  Commonwealth,  will  be  seen  when 
we  remember  tha,t  the  annual  sum  now  paid  for 
transportation  to  the  several  railroads  within  our 
limits,  exceeds  the  whole  amount  of  our  State, 
county  and  town  taxes.  It  is  worthy  of  inquiry 
whether  the  rates  of  transportation  cannot  be  re* 
duced,  and,  from  the  consequent  increase  of  busi- 
ness, the  corporations  be  enabled  to  pay  reason- 
able dividends,  while  affording  increased  accom- 
modations to  the  public. 

Much  of  the  time  of  past  Legislatures  has 
been  devoted  to  the  examination  of  the  various 
projects  for  new  railroads  brought  to  their  atten- 
tion. May  not  the  time  now*  have  arrived  when 
general  laws  may  be  enacted  under  which  all 
new  enterprises  may  be  organized,  and  thus  re- 
lieve you  and  your  successors  from  the  labor 
of  these  Investigations? 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  21 

The  powers  of  the  Commissioners  might  also  be 
extended,  and  they  be  authorized  to  determine 
many  points  now  controlled  by  local  boards  or  the 
Legislature,  such  as  the  crossing  of  highways,  the 
location  of  stations,  and  other  minor  matters, 
which  in  other  States  have  been  found  to  be  safe 
under  the  care  of  central  boards,  or  of  the  courts. 

SAVINGS  BANKS. 

From  the  report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Savings 
Banks,  it  appears  that  the  whole  amount  of  de- 
posits and  surplus  in  the  banks  is  now  $138,232,- 
271.59,  an  increase  of  nearly  $24,000,000  over  the 
amount  on  deposit  last  year.  It  is  very  evident 
that  a  large  share  of  this  increase  is  not  the  savings 
of  labor. 

The  investments  have  been  found  to  be  safe,  and 
as  remunerative  almost  as  in  other  money  corpora- 
tions where  the  funds  are  not  so  readily  at  the 
command  of  the  owner. 

Each  year  shows  more  deposits  by  capitalists. 
Perhaps  this  is  not  to  be  regretted,  as  it  enables  the 
banks  to  do  the  business  at  a  very  small  expense, — 
the  average  cost  last  year  being  only  twenty-seven 
one-hundredths  (27-100)  per  cent.  A  very  large 
part  of  the  funds   is   loaned  on   real   estate,  this 


22  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

method  of  investment  having  been  favored  in 
former  years  by  the  Legislature,  and  highly  ap- 
proved by  the  public.  By  every  prudent  expedient 
we  should  encourage  these  institutions.  They  are 
under  the  authority  of  the  State,  and  are  generally 
controlled  by  honest,  sagacious  and  faithful  men. 
The  accumulations  of  capitalists  will,  in  the  end, 
find  their  way  largely  into  these  institutions,  for  as 
our  banking  law  now  stands,  they  furnish  the  only 
place  of  deposit  for  persons  desiring  to  have  their 
invested  funds  on  interest,  and  at  the  same  time 
subject  to  their  immediate  call.  In  this  way,  money 
that  would  seek  other  parts  of  the  country  for 
investment,  is  retained  here  for  the  benefit  of  our 
people  desiring  to  make  permanent  loans  at  mod- 
erate rates  of  interest.  I  am  constrained  to  say 
here,  that  there  has  been  a  manifest  desire  with 
many,  especially  the  new  banks,  to  pay  a  large 
dividend  in  order  to  attract  deposits.  This  has  led 
them  to  exact  high  rates  of  interest  on  their  loans, 
often  as  high  as  eight  per  cent.,  and  sometimes 
higher.  It  is  evident  to  all  business  men  that 
such  rates  cannot  be  obtained  without  impair- 
ing the  security  of  the  loans.  Thus  far  great 
care  and  wisdom  have  been  manifested  in  the 
conduct  of  these  institutions  in  their  investments. 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  23 

but  if  a  spirit  of  rivalry  is  engendered  disaster 
will  surely  follow. 

It  may  be  wise  for  the  Legislature  to  place  some 
wholesome  check  on  this  tendency  of  the  banks  to 
exact  high  interest  and  consequently  to  take  doubt- 
ful security.  The  burden  falls  heaviest  upon  the 
small  borrowers,  who  are  the  least  able  to  bear  this 
exaction.  It  is  for  the  public  welfare  that  every 
man  of  moderate  means  should  have  a  homestead, 
and  every  inducement  should  be  held  out  to  him  to 
exert  himself  to  obtain  one,  but  it  is  discouraging 
for  him  to  find  that  he  cannot  effect  a  small  loan 
without  being  compelled  to  pay  a  rate  of  interest 
which  will  absorb  a  large  share  of  his  surplus 
earnings. 

It  should  be  a  principle  with  the  institutions  to 
invest  in  these  small  mortgages.  As  a  rule,  they 
are  equally  safe  with  others,  the  only  objection 
being  the  extra  care  on  account  of  the  increased 
number  of  loans.  This  is  a  very  small  considera- 
tion, and  certainly  every  bank  officer  should  be 
willing  to  contribute  his  part  of  labor  for  the  pub- 
lic good,  and  for  the  benefit  of  a  large  share  of  the 
depositors  in  these  institutions. 

I  again  call  your  attention  to  the  propriety  of 
enlarging  the  amount  of  deposits  which  may  be 


24  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

made  by  any  one  person.  I  can  perceive  no  possi- 
ble harm  to  the  public  in  such  an  increase,  but,  on 
the  contrary,  much  deception  would  be  avoided  if 
depositors  be  permitted  to  place  considerable 
amounts  in  banks  convenient  to  their  places  of 
residence. 

The  rate  of  taxation  on  deposits  in  these  institu- 
tions is  only  about  one-half  the  average  rate  of  the 
State.  Owing  to  the  great  changes  in  our  finan- 
cial aifairs,  the  drift  of  these  institutions  is  to 
become  ordinary  money  corporations,  and  it  is 
questionable  whether  such  a  great  relief  from  the 
public  burdens  is  longer  justifiable.  An  increase 
of  the  tax  would  also  tend  to  check  the  establish- 
ment of  new  banks  where  there  are  enough 
already  for  the  accommodation  of  the  public.  In 
most  of  our  large  towns  and  cities  there  is  no 
real  necessity  for  more  banks.  The  demand 
comes  mainly  from  persons  who  expect  to  hold 
treasurerships  and  other  oflSces  which  yield  com- 
fortable and  permanent  salaries.  This  disposition 
to  seek  these  sinecures  should  not  be  encouraged 
by  the  Legislature. 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  25 

THE     STATE    PKISON^. 

The  income  of  the  State  Prison  for  several 
years  has  exceeded  the  expenses  by  nearly  thirty 
thousand  dollars.  This  is  a  very  gratifying  re- 
sult, which  is  largely  due  to  the  faithfulness  and 
good  judgment  exercised  by  the  Warden,  Inspec- 
tors and  other  officers  of  the  institution.  While 
such  success  has  attended  the  labors  of  those 
in  charge,  pecuniarily,  there  has  been  a  marked 
improvement  in  the  discipline  of  the  prison. 
The  inmates  have  been  kindly  treated,  and  every 
effort  on  their  part  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a 
better  life  when  they  shall  be  released  from  con- 
finement, is  earnestly  encouraged.  The  school 
established  more  than  a  year  since  has  been  very 
successful,  and  the  attendants  show  their  appre- 
elation  of  the  privilege  granted  them  by  faithful 
devotion  to  their  studies.  Three  evenings  a 
week  are  employed  in  the  instruction  of  more 
than  one  hundred  scholars,  and  a  larger  number 
would  attend  if  the  prison  had  a  room  properly 
arranged  and  fitted  exclusively  for  school  pur- 
poses. In  the  winter  months  lectures  are  usually 
given  once  a  week,  which  are  fully  attended,  and 
the  privilege  is  highly  prized  by  the  inmates. 
At  present  the  chapel  is  used  for  a  school-room, 


26  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

there  being  no  other  place  for  public  worship, 
lectures,  entertainments  or  school  purposes  for 
nearly  six  hundred  men.  It  is  a  matter  of  vital 
importance  that  this  large  number  of  prisoners, 
desiring  instruction  in  various  ways,  should  have 
ample  accommodations  for  that  purpose,  so  far 
as  they  can  be  given  to  them  with  safety.  It 
must  be  admitted  that  confinement  in  idleness  is 
not  the  best  or  most  efiective  form  of  punish- 
ment. If  we  seek  to  restore  the  criminal  to  so- 
ciety a  reformed  man,  we  cannot  withhold  any 
means  of  improvement  compatible  with  his  con- 
dition. In  this  work  the  school  will  occupy  a 
high  place  in  the  future.  It  is  an  evidence  of 
the  advancing  civilization  of  the  age.  It  is  not 
in  harmony  with  our  history  to  leave  these 
young  men  in  that  st^te  of  ignorance,  which  in 
many  cases  led  them  to  commit  the  crimes  which 
sent  them  to  the  prison;  and  the  State  should 
not  continue  to  be  responsible  for  this  ignorance 
while  the  criminal  is  under  her  authority.  These 
men  should  be  encouraged  to  prepare  themselves 
for  usefulness  when  they  shall  leave  the  j^rison, 
and  be  better  fitted  to  obtain  an  honest  liveli- 
hood than  when  they  entered  it.  A  moderate 
sum    will    enable    the    authorities    to    provide    a 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  2T 

school-room  with  suitable  desks,  blackboards  and 
other  appm-tenances  necessary  for  the  comfort 
and  instruction  of  scholars.  Certainly  men  con- 
fined to  the  walls  of  a  prison  should  have  such 
conunon  conveniences,  especially  when  there  is  a 
surplus  paid  into  the  State  treasury  yearly,  above 
the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  institution.  An  in- 
crease in  the  amount  appropriated  for  the  pur- 
poses of  instruction  should  be  made,  to  enable  all 
who  desire,  to  avail  themselves  of  the  advantages 
of  the  school.  I  would  also  suggest  the  expedi- 
ency of  allowing  the  prisoners  compensation  for 
extra  labor.  The  money  thus  earned  might  be 
paid  to  their  friends,  who  often  suffer  greatly 
from  the  loss  of  their  assistance;  or  it  might  be 
deposited  in  the  savings  banks  for  their  benefit 
when  they  leave  the  prison. 

The  exertions  made  by  the  authorities  to  im- 
prove the  moral  and  physical  condition  of  the 
inmates  have  been  appreciated  by  them;  the 
number  of  offences  against  the  rules  of  the 
prison  has  been  lessened;  there  are  fewer  at- 
tempts to  escape,  and  there  is  a  more  cheerful 
aspect  over  the  whole  institution  than  in  former 
years.  !N"or  do  the  privileges  which  have  been 
allowed  the  prisoners  lessen  theu'  fear  of  punish- 


28  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

ment.  I^othing  can  compensate  a  human  being 
for  the  loss  of  liberty,  or  make  imprisonment  for 
any  length  of  time  endurable.  The  quickened 
intellect  feels  even  the  more  keenly  the  dishonor 
which  clings  to  a  felon's  name,  and  still  more 
the  deprivation  of  personal  freedom.  The  statis- 
tics of  the  prison  show  that  not  more  than  one- 
sixth  ever  enter  its  walls,  as  criminals,  the  sec- 
ond time. 

Though  some  are  pardoned,  and  the  pubhc  are 
often  led  to  believe  that  executive  clemency  is 
too  freely  exercised,  still  the  chances  of  freedom 
in  this  way  are  too  small,  in  this  State,  to  in- 
duce any  one  to  run  the  risk  of  long  incarcera- 
tion, ^ot  one-tenth  of  the  whole  number  are 
pardoned  annually.  Of  the  nmnber  of  prisoners 
pardoned,  many  are  released  when  quite  ill,  that 
they  may  be  cared  for  by  their  relatives  in  their 
last  days;  and  others,  whose  crimes  are  not  of 
an  aggravated  character,  are  set  free  when  show- 
ing incipient  disease,  and  where  continued  con- 
finement will  most  surely  produce  fatal  results. 
AJl  who  have  had  experience  in  the  Council  will 
testify  to  the  caution  exercised  to  prevent  an 
unwise  use  of  the  pardoning  power.  Persons 
taking   seats  at  the   Council   Board  with  strong 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  29 

convictions  against  the  policy  of  releasing  pris- 
oners before  the  expiration  of  sentence,  have  al- 
most invariably  been  led  to  modify  their  views, 
and  often  become  the  readiest  to  listen  to  peti- 
tions for  clemency. 

It  may  be  mentioned,  in  this  connection,  that 
it  is  the  cnstom  to  issue  pardons  on  condition 
that  if  the  person  pardoned  is  again  convicted 
of  crime,  during  the  period  of  his  first  sentence, 
he  shall  serve  out  the  remainder  of  the  original 
sentence.  This  most  salutary  provision  is  rarely 
departed  from;  and  it  is  very  seldom  that  a  pris- 
oner is  again  convicted  while  this  condition  is  in 
force,  however  hardened  he  may  be  in  crime.  A 
consideration  of  this  subject  may  lead  you  to 
make  further  amendment  to  the  law,  and  give 
greater  power  to  the  executive  in  this  direction. 

THE   PKISO]^   COMMISSION. 

The  Prison  Commission  has  had  but  a  short 
time  to  examine  the  important  matters  committed 
to  it  by  the  law  of  the  last  Legislature  establish- 
ing that  Board.  That  our  county  system  of 
prisons  needs  radical  changes  in  many  respects 
cannot  be  doubted  by  any  one  who  examines  the 
subject.     The    Commission,   in    carrying   out   the 


30  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

will  of  the  Legislature,  desire  to  remedy  evils, 
and  not  to  make  changes  of  doubtful  expediency. 
That  their  action  may  be  wise  and  satisfactory 
is  their  earnest  purpose;  and  they  have,  there- 
fore, proceeded  with  great  caution  to  make  a 
thorough  examination  of  the  jails  and  houses  of 
correction  throughout  the  Commonwealth.  Thus 
far  they  have  been  unable  to  mature  a  system 
under  which  they  can  make  transfers  of  prisoners 
as  contemplated  by  the  law.  They  will  lay  be- 
fore you,  from  time  to  time,  for  your  informa- 
tion, such  facts  and  recommendations  as  may 
seem  to  them  important  and  judicious.  The 
subject  is  one  of  much  interest,  and  should  re- 
ceive careful  attention. 

THE    STATE    CHARITIES. 

The  report  of  the  Board  of  State  Charities  will 
show  their  operations  and  the  results  which  have 
been  attained  during  the  year.  It  is  the  purpose  of 
the  Board  to  bring  all  departments  under  their 
care  into  harmonious  action,  with  a  rigid  account- 
ability for  the  large  disbursements  which  are 
wholly  or  partially  under  their  authority.  It  is  not 
their  desire,  nor  that  of  the  people  of  the  Common- 
wealth, to  treat  the  unfortunate  persons  who  are 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  81 

dependent  upon  the  public  for  support,  in  any  par- 
simonious spirit,  but  rather  that  a  wise  care  and 
oversight  should  be  instituted  upon  all  expendi- 
tures, and  giving  at  the  same  time  to  the  recipients 
of  the  public  charity  everything  that  will  conduce 
to  their  welfare  consistent  with  their  condition.  It 
has  been  the  aim  of  the  authorities  to  discourage 
persons  in  needy  circumstances  from  becoming 
chargeable  to  the  State ;  to  keep  alive  in  them,  so 
far  as  possible,  the  feeling  of  personal  independ- 
ence ;  for  when  a  man  willingly  becomes  dependent, 
he  is  not  only  an  expense,  but  a  means  of  demoral- 
ization to  the  community.  Let  the  traditions  of  a 
family  be  those  of  voluntary  pauperism  and  scarcely 
any  effort  in  their  behalf  will  lift  them  from  the 
degradation. 

Acting  on  the  principle  that  segregation  is  far 
better  than  aggregation,  especially  for  the  young, 
the  State  has  established  the  system  of  relieving 
the  sick  poor  through  the  town  authorities,  thus 
saving  a  large  regular  expenditure  for  their  sup- 
port, and  at  the  same  time  permitting  them  to 
enjoy  the  comfort  of  their  homes,  and  the  society 
of  their  relatives  and  friends.  A  visiting  agency 
has  also  been  established  which  has  partial  super- 
vision over  every  child  in  the  care  of  the  State,  but 


32  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

particularly  after  he  leaves  its  institutions,  to  pre- 
vent the  infringement  of  his  rights  as  regards  his 
physical  wants  or  moral  and  intellectual  welfare. 
In  addition  to  this  supervision,  the  agency  performs 
a  most  important  work  in  examining  the  real  facts 
of  the  cases  of  the  children  when  they  are  brought 
before  the  magistrates,  for  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
agent  equally  to  defend  the  rights  of  the  children 
and  of  the  Commonwealth.  Another  duty  of  the 
agency  is  to  provide  suitable  places  to  indenture 
the  children  as  fast  as  they  can  be  discharged,  with 
safety  to  the  public,  from  the  institutions  to  which 
they  have  been  sentenced.  The  result  of  this  work 
will  appear  in  the  report  I  have  referred  to,  and 
also  in  the  extended  report  of  the  agent.  The 
objects  contemplated  in  the  establishment  of  the 
agency  must  meet  the  approbation  of  every  one 
who  seeks  the  welfare  of  the  children,  and  the  best 
means  of  relieving  the  Commonwealth  from  the 
burden  of  their  support.  As  the  result  of  its 
action  the  number  of  inmates  in  the  Westborough 
Reform  School  has  been  largely  reduced.  The 
same  is  true  also  of  the  Nautical  School,  and 
the  trustees  have  been  enabled  to  give  up  one  ship, 
transferring  the  boys  on  board  to  the  other  ship, 
and  to  the  Westborough  School.     The  ship  thus 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  33 

relieved  has  been  sold,  and  the  proceeds  of  the  sale 
have  been  paid  into  the  treasury.  There  would 
seem  to  be  no  doubt  of  the  expediency  of  continu- 
ing a  system  which  has  been  of  such  signal  benefit 
to  these  children,  and  also  a  means  of  reducing 
largely  the  expense  of  their  maintenance.  Instead 
of  curtailing  its  action  it  would  be  better  to  extend 
the  powers  of  the  agency,  bringing  every  child 
accused  of  crime  under  its  supervision,  before  sen- 
tence as  well  as  after,  that  our  courts  may  be  saved 
the  painful  task  of  trying  children  of  tender  age, 
without  other  defence  than  the  humanity  of  the 
courts,  which  in  some  instances  have  stopped  the 
proceedings,  directing  the  officer  to  open  the  pris- 
oner's box  and  let  the  child  go  free. 

The  workhouse  at  Bridgewater  needs  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Legislature.  It  was  originally  built 
for  an  almshouse,  and  is  still  used  as  such  to  a 
limited  extent.  But  now  by  far  the  larger  part  of 
the  inmates  are  held  under  sentence  for  two  years 
and  under,  mainly  to  give  them  an  opportunity  to 
reform.  It  will  be  seen  at  once  that  a  building 
adapted  to  the  purposes  of  charity  is  unsuitable  for 
a  prison.  There  should  be  a  thorough  separation, 
that  the  penitent  desiring  to  reform  may  not  be 
influenced  by  .the   incorrigibly  wicked.     Scarcely 

5 


34  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

any  such  isolation  is  now  possible,  and  if  the 
present  system  is  to  be  continued  an  appropriation 
should  be  made  to  enable  the  authorities  to  improve 
the  buildings  and  adapt  them  to  the  present  uses  of 
the  institution. 

THE   MILITIA. 

Yery  few  changes  have  been  made  in  the  laws 
relating  to  the  militia,  for  three  years  past.  The 
system  established  seems  to  be  well  adapted  to 
our  present  circumstances,  and  is  generally  satis- 
factory to  the  officers  and  men,  who  retain  their 
enthusiasm  for  the  service,  as  evidenced  by  the 
number  going  into  camp  each  year,  which  remains 
about  the  same. 

The  number  of  enrolled  militia  is     .         .  181,719 

Increase  over  1869,  ....  5,960 
The  number  of  men  of  the  active  militia 

actually  in  camp  was    ....  5,890 

After  consultation  with  the  major-general  and 
the  higher  officers,  I  concluded  to  order  a  muster 
of  the  whole  division  at  Concord.  The  opinion 
seemed  to  be  general  that  an  encampment  of  the 
whole  force  would  be  of  great  benefit,  by  stimu- 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  35 

lating  the  different  organizations  to  make  the  best 
appearance  possible,  both  in  numbers  and  condi- 
tion. There  had  been  only  one  similar  muster  for 
twenty  years,  and  that  was  held  before  the  war. 
A  large  gathering  would  bring  out  the  veterans 
of  the  late  war,  and  encourage  them  to  join  the 
militia,  which  is  very  desirable,  as  they  give 
greater  efficiency  to  the  drill  and  infuse  a  spirit 
of  discij^line  into  the  young  men  who  have  never 
been  in  active  service.  I  am  happy  to  say  that 
the  militia  received  the  proposition  favorably,  and 
showed  every  desire  to  make  the  muster  and  re- 
view useful  as  well  as  creditable  to  themselves, 
and  honorable  to  the  Commonwealth.  Under  the 
wise  and  careful  orders  of  the  major-general  of 
the  division,  all  of  his  admirable  arrangements 
were  carried  out  most  successfully.  The  police 
established  to  prevent  straggling  from  camp,  and 
other  disorders,  was  very  efficient,  and  there  were 
no  disturbances,  either  in  the  camp  or  outside, 
equal  to  those  of  an  ordinary  brigade  muster. 
The  real  objection  raised  to  the  general  muster 
was  thus  overcome,  and  no  complaint  was  then, 
or  has  been  since,  made  of  irregularities  on  the 
part  of   the  soldiers. 

In  company  with  my  staff  I  visited  the  encamp- 


36  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

ment  on  one  of  the  days  devoted  to  general 
review.  The  appearance  and  marching  of  the 
troops  elicited  the  highest  praise  from  the  mem- 
bers of  the  staff  and  other  gentlemen  who  had 
attained  honorable  distinction  in  active  service. 
It  was  their  unanimous  testimony  that  they  never 
saw  a  better  review  while  in  the  Union  armies, 
and  that  they  felt  this  force  was  trained  and  pre- 
pared for  war  a's  well  as  any  militia  could  be  in 
time  of  peace. 

Though  the  expense  to  the  State  of  sustaining 
our  military  system  is  large,  it  also  involves  quite 
an  outlay  on  the  part  of  the  members  of  the 
organization.  They  are  entitled  to  the  gratitude 
of  their  fellow-citizens,  and  should  receive  assist- 
ance and  encouragement  in  their  laudable  zeal  to 
fit  themselves  for  service  at  the  country's  call. 
The  State  has  received  high  honor  from  the  readi- 
ness of  her  citizen  soldiery  to  go  to  the  country's 
defence  when  the  capital  was  imperilled.  She 
should  never  fail  to  support  those  patriotic  men 
who  are  willing  to  give  their  time  and  money  that 
the  State  may  be  prepared  for  a  similar  emergency. 

The  difficulty  of  procuring  suitable  camping 
ground  increases  each  year.  There  is  no  pro- 
vision by  law  for  paying   for  the   use   of    such 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  37 

grounds,  and  they  have  to  be  furnished  by  the 
commander  imder  some  arrangement  with  the 
owner,  who  often  stipulates  that  he  may  lease  a 
portion  of  the  grounds  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  public.  This  enables  the  vendors  of  va- 
rious articles  detrimental  to  the  welfare  of  the 
encampment,  to  ply  their  trade  as  they  could  not 
do  under  proper  and  usual  regulations.  To  avoid 
this  stipulation,  the  generals  commanding  have 
been  obliged  to  submit  to  a  heavy  expense  which 
the  State  should  not  permit  them  to  incur.  If  the 
Legislature  should  think  it  unwise  to  purchase 
grounds,  an  appropriation  should  be  made  to  pay 
for  the  use  of  any  lands  necessary  for  the  encamp-, 
ment. 

Only  one  regiment  is  armed  with  breech-loaders. 
A  large  proportion,  if  not  the  whole  of  the 
infantry,  should  be  armed  in  like  manner,  if  we 
desire  to  keep  them  prepared  for  effective  service. 
The  war  in  Europe  has  created  such  a  demand  for 
fire-arms  that  their  cost  has  materially  increased; 
but  still,  careful  inquiry  should  be  instituted  to  as- 
certain whether  early  preparation  ought  not  to  be 
made  for  arming  all  of  our  infantry  with  these 
new  guns.  The  annual  expense  of  the  militia 
for  the  past  three  years  has  been  about  two  hun- 


38  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

dred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  I  see  no 
way  of  reducing  this  amount  and  retaining  the 
efficiency  of  the  organization,  except  by  reducing 
the  number  of  companies.  It  is  the  opinion  of 
the  adjutant-general  and  other  officers  that  this 
may  be  done  without  injury  to  the  service.  Hav- 
ing called  the  attention  of  the  last  Legislature  to 
the  propriety  of  diminishing  the  cost  of  the  militia 
in  this  way,  and  it  having  been  decided  not  to 
reduce  the  force,  I  refer  to  it  now  only  to  ask 
you  to  consider  the  matter  before  making  other 
changes  in  the  system. 

I  shall  transmit  for  your  information  the  report 
of  the  surgeon-general,  detailing  the  operations 
of  his  department.  The  services  rendered  the 
soldiers  of  the  late  war  by  this  faithful  officer  and 
his  assistants  deserve  high  commendation.  This 
State  alone  extends  pecuniary  aid  to  disabled 
soldiers  and  the  families  of  the  slain.  More  than 
six  hundred  thousand  dollars  are  still  paid  annually 
for  their  relief;  and  while  this  method  is  continued, 
the  work  of  this  department  must  be  performed  in 
a  systematic  manner,  or"  the  Commonwealth  will 
be  liable  to  great  loss  from  frauds  practised  by 
parties  who  are  ever  ready  to  live  on  the  public 
bounty.     On  the   other  hand,   deserving  persons 


1871.]  SENATE -No.  1.  39 

will    suffer   from    the    want    of  information    and 
assistance. 

Many  applications  for  pension  and  bounty  are 
now  pending,  which  have  been  placed  in  the  care 
of  this  department,  and  if  they  fall  into  the  hands 
of  dishonest  claim  agents  the  soldiers  will  lose  a 
*  large  part  of  the  amount  really  due  them.  From 
motives  of  humanity,  as  well  as  justice  to  those 
who  have  sacrificed  so  much,  this  work  should  be 
continued;  and  it  is  my  opinion  that  the  system  is 
the  best  that  can  be  adopted  to  relieve  these  per- 
sons, who  deserve  so  much  from  the  country. 

INTOXICATESra  LIQUORS. 

For  nearly  twenty  years,  with  a  single  exception, 
the  prohibitory  law,  so  called,  has  been  on  the 
statute  book.  It  has  been  changed,  more  or  less,  at 
nearly  every  session  of  the  Legislature,  to  meet  the 
demands  of  public  opinion.  Notwithstanding  these 
changes  it  would  appear  that  the  sentiment  of  the 
State  was  unqualifiedly  in  favor  of  the  principle  of 
the  law,  for  its  enforcement  to-day  is  more  general 
and  quite  as  stringent  as  at  any  former  period,  and 
at  the  same  time  there  is  little  opposition  expressed, 
except  by  those  who  are  amenable  to  the  law.  In 
no  other  way  can  a  restriction  on  the  sale  of  in- 


40  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

toxicating  di'inks  be  made  effectual, — at  least,  no 
other  way  has  as  yet  been  discovered.  True,  many, 
relying  too  much  on  the  power  of  law  to  stem 
the  tide  of  intemperance,  have  become  discour- 
aged because  the  desired  results  have  not  yet 
been  attained.  They  have  censured  the  authori- 
ties for  supposed  unfaithfulness,  not  having  ac- 
quainted themselves  with  the  practical  obstacles 
to  a  rigid  enforcement  of  the  law.  Those 
engaged  in  the  traffic  have  not  been  idle,  but 
have  brought  every  possible  influence  to  bear 
upon  the  public,  in  the  hope  of  creating  an  im- 
pression that  no  law  could  be  executed.  "With 
all  these  embarrassments,  there  is  no  doubt  that  the 
law  is  more  effective  and  better  observed  in  this 
State  than  similar  enactments  for  the  restriction  of 
the  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks  in  other  States  of 
the  Union.  Under  it  thousands  of  dram-shops  are 
suppressed  and  the  whole  traffic  is  curtailed.  This 
is  manifest  to  any  one  who  visits  communities 
where  there  is  no  such  law,  or  examines  the  reports 
of  the  State  Constable,  and  the  records  of  the 
courts. 

That  the  whole  dram-shop  system  is  considered 
a  nuisance  and  a  curse  is  abundantly  attested  by 
the  legislation  of  two  hundred  years.     The  daily 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  41. 

experience  of  every  police  officer  shows  it  to  be  the 
great  nursery  of  vice,  poverty  and  crime.  The 
people  of  the  State  have  manifested  their  purpose, 
repeatedly,  to  do  away  with  the  system,  especially 
in  regard  to  the  sale  of  spirituous  intoxicating 
liquors;  but  they  have  not  been  so  unanimous 
in  their  opposition  to  the  sale  of  malt  liquors. 

The  last  Legislature  repeatedly,  by  a  nearly 
unanimous  vote,  declared  its  opinion  to  be  that 
some  modification  of  the  law  of  1869  was  expedient. 
Finally,  an  Act  was  passed  referring  the  matter  to 
the  people.  There  was  no  attempt  to  legalize  the 
sale  of  spirituous  liquors,  but  it  seemed  to  be 
conceded  that  public  opinion  was* well  settled  in 
regard  to  them. 

As  I  understand  the  law,  no  principle  is  yielded. 
The  public,  including  the  friends  of  temperance, 
were  divided  upon  the  question.  'No  one  knew 
the  real  opinion  of  the  people;  the  Legislature 
referred  the  matter  to  them;  and  I  could  not  see 
the  propriety  of  withholding  my  signature  to  the 
Act.  Solon,  when  asked  if  he  had  made  the  best 
laws  for  the  State,  replied,  "  ^o,  but  the  best  that 
the  people  will  bear."  In  this  country  the  people 
are  the  law-makers  through  their  representatives, 
and  to  secure  any  law  the  people  have  but  to  sig- 

6 


42  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

nifj  their  will  and  it  will  be  obeyed.  I  believe 
the  people  will  desire  to  improve  this  law,  so  far 
at  least  as  to  suppress  dram-shops  of  every  kind. 
This  seems  to  be  their  opinion  as  expressed  by 
their  votes  taken  in  September,  which  show  that 
of  140  cities  and  towns  voting,  119  decided  to 
prohibit  the  sale. 

It  is  believed  that  if  local  meetings  had  been 
more  generally  held,  the  vote  would  have  been 
more  decisive,  and  the  moral  effects  of  such 
action  by  the  people  would  have  greatly  deterred 
offenders  against  the  law  from  pursuing  their 
business. 

Although  there  is  a  seeming  indifference  to  the 
great  evil  of  intemperance;  although  the  most 
enthusiastic  friends  of  temperance  are  often  dis- 
heartened by  the  obstacles  to  be  overcome,  still 
there  is  constant  discussion  as  to  the  best  methods 
of  suppressing  it,  and  there  is  a  steady  advance  in 
the  general  sentiment  that  the  use  of  intoxicating 
liquors  as  a  beverage  is  not  to  be  defended;  but,  on 
the  contrary,  that  the  public  morals  and  the  public 
interests,  will  be  greatly  subserved  when  the  custom 
shall  have  been  abandoned.  Surely,  every  philan- 
thropist, every  lover  of  his  country,  every  political 
economist,  must  feel  called  upon  to  aid,  by  example 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  43 

as  well  as  by  precept,  in  the  consummation  of  a 
reform  upon  which  the  highest  interests  of  the 
State  so  greatly  depend.  • 

ASYLUMS   FOR  INEBRIATES. 

I  shall  transmit  to  you,  at  an  early  day,  the  able 
Report  of  the  Commissioners  on  Inebriate  Asy- 
lums, which  cannot  fail  to  be  read  with  much 
interest.  For  a  long  time  efforts  have  been  made 
to  establish  an  institution  which  shall  be  exclusively 
devoted  to  the  restraint  and  reclamation  of  persons 
sentenced  to  prison  for  drunkenness.  They  are  a 
source  of  constant  sorrow  to  their  friends,  and  a 
burden  to  the  community  when  free.  Many  of 
them,  when  sober,  are  peaceful  and  industrious, 
doing  what  they  can  for  the  comfort  and  support  of 
their  families.  The  appetite  for  stimulants  has 
been  indulged  by  them  so  long  that  the  ordinary 
periods  of  imprisonment  serve  little  else  than 
to  make  the  desire  uncontrollable,  when  they  are 
again  brought  into  places  of  temptation.  By  a 
longer  term  of  restraint  it  is  hoped  a  cure  may  be 
effected,  as  their  physical  systems  will  have  been 
improved,  their  moral  powers  gradually  strength- 
ened, and  thus  they  become  enabled  to  overcome 
their  habits. 


44  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

The  Commission  have  given  much  attention  to 
this  part  of  the  subject  submitted  to  them,  and  their 
conclusions  cannot  fail  deeply  to  interest  the  public 
and  justify  decided  action  by  the  Legislature.  It  is 
repugnant  to  our  humanity,  if  not  to  our  sense  of 
justice,  to  incarcerate  these  .men  with  professional 
and  hardened  felons,  and  they  should  suffer  this 
wrong  no  longer.  '  The  Commission  recommend  the 
incorporation  of  an  mstitution  for  the  medical  treat- 
ment of  inebriates  who  directly  place  themselves 
voluntarily  under  restraint,  or  are  placed  in  the 
institution  in  the  same  manner  that  insane  persons 
now  are  in  asylums.  They  also  concur  in  the 
request  of  the  Directors  of  the  Washingtonian 
Home  for  an  appropriation  by  the  State  of  the 
sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  on  condition  that 
a  like  sum  is  given  by  individuals  for  the  pur- 
poses of  the  institution.  This  Home  has  been 
very  useful  in  years  past  in  saving  many  men 
who  appeared  to  be  lost  to  themselves  and  the 
world,  and  its  means  should  be  increased  that  it 
may  keep  pace  with  the  demands  made  upon  it. 
It  is  commended  to  your  favorable  consideration. 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  45 

THE   STATE  POLICE. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  report  of  the  Consta- 
ble of  the  Commonwealth  that  while  the  special 
duties  devolving  upon  his  force  by  law,  have 
been  faithfully  performed,  the  deputies  have  been 
exceedingly  useful  as  a  general  police  for  the 
pr'eservation  of  order  on  important  occasions, 
as  well  as  for  the  detection  and  prevention  of 
ordinary  crimes. 

The  necessity  of  this  force  is  more  apparent 
every  year.  To  rely  only  upon  the  police  of 
the  several  municipalities  for  the  arrest  of  even 
common  offenders  would  weaken  the  administra- 
tion of  law.  The  fact  that  there  is  a  central 
force  accustomed  to  dealing  with  turbulent  and 
disorderly  persons,  is  in  itself  a  check  upon  the 
disposition  of  offenders  to  resist  other  officers  of 
the  law.  In  no  year  have  the  services  of  the  police 
been  in  such  constant  requisition  by  the  authorities 
of  cities  and  towns  where  there  were  to  be  large 
gatherings,  as  in  the  past.  The  efficiency  and  good 
conduct  of  the  force  on  all  these  occasions  have 
been  most  noticeable  and  have  elicited  high  praise 
from  persons  hitherto  disposed  to  question  the 
necessity  of  its  existence. 

The  last  Legislature  so  far  reduced  the  appro- 


46  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

priation  that  nearly  one-half  of  the  deputies  had 
to  be  discharged.  This  has  proportionally  dimin- 
ished the  value  of  the  labors  of  the  force,  and 
the  impolicy  of  this  movement  is  seen  in  the 
fact  that  constant  calls  have  been  made  by  the 
people  of  many  of  our  larger  towns  for  the  re- 
appointment of  the  discharged  oflScers  in  their 
respective  localities,  in  order  that  they  may  be 
protected  in  their  persons  and  property.  The 
constable  of  the  Commonwealth  has  collected 
and  paid  into  the  treasuries  of  the  several  counties, 
sixty  thousand  dollars  more  than  the  whole 
expense  incurred  in  his  office. 

The  cost  to  the  people,  theji,  would  seem  to  be 
no  reason  why  the  appropriation  should  be  re- 
duced. It  is  far  better  to  prevent  crime  than  to 
arrest  and  punish  criminals  who,  if  they  understand 
that  there  is  a  force,  ever  on  the  alert,  fully  com- 
petent to  deal  with  them,  are  deterred,  if  resident 
here,  from  breaches  of  the  law;  and  those  living 
elsewhere  avoid  a  State  where  their  characters  are 
known  and  where  they  are  almost  sure  to  be 
detected  and  punished  if  they  commit  crimes.  It 
must  be  apparent  that  the  best  interests  of  the 
community  will  be  promoted  by  a  larger  appro- 
priation, that  the  number  of  constables  may  be 
increased. 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  47 

AGRICULTURE. 

The  agriculture  of  the  State  has  suffered  from 
the  pecuharities  of  the  season,  to  a  greater  extent, 
perhaps,  than  any  other  interest.  A  winter  of  sin- 
gular mildness,  followed  by  a  spring  remarkably 
early  and  propitious,  gave  promise  of  a  fruitful 
harvest,  but  a  heated  tenn  succeeded,  culminating 
in  a  drought  of  unprecedented  severity,  which 
seriously  affected  the  crops,  and  caused  great  loss 
and  inconvenience  in  all  parts  of  the  State.  The 
aggregate  yield  of  farm  products,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  fruit,  has  therefore  been  less  than  usual. 

The  live  stock  interest  of  the  State,  especially 
that  connected  with  the  dairy,  has  been  increas- 
ing in  extent  and  importance  during  the  last  few 
years,  and  the  well-being  of  the  community  is 
so  intimately  connected  with  and  dependent  upon 
it,  that  the  health  of  the  animals  on  which  we  rely 
for  dairy  products  is  a  matter  of  great  public 
concern.  Contagious  diseases  among  cattle,  there- 
fore, have  occupied  the  attention  of  all  civilized 
governments.  The  energy  and  decision  with 
which  the  State  authorities  extirpated  a  highly 
contagious  cattle  disease,  imported  into  this  State 
ten  years  ago,  elicited  the  highest  commendations 
throughout  the  country,  and  indeed  it  may  be  said 


48  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

throughout  the  civilized  world,  for  the  methods 
adopted,  the  Acts  of  the  Legislature,  and  the  re- 
ports of  the  Cattle  Commission  relating  to  it,  have 
been  eagerly  sought  wherever  the  disease  has 
appeared  in  this  country  and  abroad. 

"We  have  a  new  disease  to  contend  with,  which 
is  of  a  highly  contagious  character,  recently  im- 
ported and  spreading  rapidly  among  the  farm  stock. 
Though  quite  different  from  the  disease  known  as 
pi  euro-pneumonia,  which  the  authorities  so  thor- 
oughly eradicated  that  no  trace  of  it  has  been 
found  within  our  limits  for  the  last  five  or  six 
years,  it  is  regarded  abroad  as  scarcely  less  to  be 
dreaded, — not  so  much  from  its  immediate  fatality 
as  from  the  great  loss  of  property  which  it  entails 
by  rendering  the  cattle  useless.  The  sacrifice  of 
several  hundred  thousand  dollars  is  believed  to  be 
inevitable.  It  is  supposed  to  be  too  late  to  attack 
the  disease  with  any  hope  of  eradicating  it  com- 
pletely, but  if  the  Legislature  places  sufiicient 
power  in  the  hands  of  the  Cattle  Commission  at 
once,  it  may  be  confined  to  its  present  limits  by 
suitable  sanitary  regulations. 

The  Legislature  of  1869  offered  prizes  for  essays 
upon  the  construction,  repairs  and  management  ot 
roads,  to  be  awarded  under  the  direction  of  the 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  49 

State  Board  of  Agriculture.  The  offer  elicited  a 
wide  competition,  and  the  prizes  were  assigned  by 
a  committee  of  the  Board,  but  the  matter  was  not 
laid  before  the  Legislature  in  season  for  any  mature 
action  to  change  the  present  ancient  system  of  road 
management.  Certain  inquiries  were  instituted, 
however,  and  the  results,  with  many  statistics  in 
regard  to  the  extent  and  condition  of  our  public 
highways,  will  soon  be  laid  before  the  Legislature 
by  the  Secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture. A  wide-spread  interest  has  been  awakened 
in  this  subject,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  time  has 
come  when  the  whole  system  of  roads,  as  recog- 
nized by  the  statutes  of  this  Commonwealth,  should 
be  revised  and  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  present 
time  and  of  an  advancing  civilization. 

The  Agricultural  College  has  steadily  grown  in 
importance  and  in  the  confidence  of  the  public. 
The  number  of  students  already  admitted,  and  the 
numbers  presenting  themselves  for  admission  each 
year,  show  clearly  that  there  was  a  demand  for 
such  an  institution  in  the  community.  An  impar- 
tial examination  of  the  curriculum  of  studies  must 
convince  any  candid  man  that  it  is  eminently  calcu- 
lated to  meet  the  practical  wants  of  the  present 
time.     This  College  affords  an  opportunity  for  any 

7 


50  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

young  man  to  study  the  natural  sciences  and  fit 
himself  at  the  same  time  by  daily  observation  and 
labor,  for  the  pursuit  of  agriculture.  It  gives  him 
a  thorough  course  of  instruction  in  English  litera- 
ture; he  is  obliged  to  study  military  tactics  and 
practise  them  daily,  so  that  when  he  is  graduated 
he  is  well  qualified  for  military  duty  and  command. 
So  far  as  the  classes  have  gone  on  they  show  good 
proficiency,  and  it  is  confidently  expected  by  the 
fi  lends  of  the  institution  that  the  class  which  is  to 
be  graduated  this  year,  will  compare  favorably 
with  classes  in  our  other  colleges  in  the  studies 
which  they  have  pursued.  The  expenses  of  the 
course  in  this  College  are  not  large,  and  it  is  the 
aim  of  the  trustees  to  bring  them  within  the  reach 
of  any  young  man  of  enterprise  and  energy  who 
desires  to  obtain  an  education  which  will  fit  him  for 
the  active  labors  of  life.  The  practical  value  of  the 
College  will  be  more  apparent  hereafter,  and  its 
friends  firmly  believe  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant 
when  a  large  number  of  students  will  be  in  attend- 
ance, and  that  it  deserves  and  should  receive  the 
fostering  care  of  the  State.  Give  it  means  to  edu- 
cate three  hundred  students,  and  it  is  expected  that 
it  will  be  of  no  further  expense  to  the  Common- 
wealth, but  become  self-sustaining,  and  that  then. 


1871.]  SENATE— No,  1.  51 

like  other  colleges,  needed  improvements  will  be 
furnished  by  the  beneficence  of  the  wealthy,  aided 
by  the  strong  support  of  the  Alumni  who  will  be 
graduated  from  year  to  year. 

The  last  Legislature  passed  an  Act  "  for  the 
laying  out  one  or  more  public  parks  in  or  near 
the  City  of  Boston."  The  Act  failed  by  a  few 
votes  only  to  be  accepted  by  the  people.  As 
there  was  so  lai-ge  a  vote  in  its  favor,  it  would 
seem  to  be  the  general  opinion  that  the  public 
good  required  the  contemplated  action  authorized 
by  the  Bill,  and  it  is  worthy  of  your  considera- 
tion whether  the  two-thirds  vote  required  to 
make  the  Act  valid  should  not  now  be  reduced 
to  a  simple  majority.  It  is  not  alone  the  City 
of  Boston  which  is  interested  in  this  enterprise, 
but  a  large  district  of  country  around  it. 

inIjAjst)  fisheries. 

The  fifth  annual  report  of  the  Commissioners  on 
Inland  Fisheries  contains  much  interesting  and 
valuable  information.  The  commissioners  are  gen- 
tlemen whose  experience,  mature  judgment  and 
practical  methods  of  management  are  manifest  in 
their  prosecution  of  the  important  work  entrusted 


52  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

to  them.  The  experunents,  facts  and  statistics 
which  are  given  are  valuable  additions  to  what  has 
hitherto  been  collected  relating  to  fish  culture, — 
a  branch  of  industry  which  is  gaining  in  popular 
favor,  and  in  which  a  large  number  of  the  peo- 
ple in  different  parts  of  the  Commonwealth  are 
engaged,  with  more  success  than  has  been  antici- 
pated. Applications  are  constantly  made  to  the 
commissioners  to  set  apart  streams,  ponds  or  lakes 
for   the    purpose  of  prosecuting  this   business. 

The  case  of  the  Commonwealth  vs.  The  Holyoke 
Water  Power  Company  is  practically  settled,  the 
supreme  court  having  decided  that  this  company 
was  sheltering  itself  behind  an  erroneous  construc- 
tion of  its  charter,  thus  endorsing  an  opinion  long 
ago  expressed  by  the  commissioners.  Should  the 
United  States  Supreme  Court,  to  which  the  case 
has  been  appealed,  confirm  this  decision,  the  State 
will  be  saved  an  outlay  of  about  twenty-five  thou- 
sand dollars. 

The  cost  of  the  work  performed  by  the  com- 
missioners is  trifling  compared  with  the  results 
reached,  and  there  can  be  no  hesitation  in  gTanting 
the  small  appropriation  which  they  recommend. 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  .       68 

IMPEOVEMENTS    IN^    CAPE    COD    HARBOR. 

In  1867,  after  careful  consideration,  the  Legis- 
lature authorized  the  construction  of  a  sea-wall 
across  the  opening  of  East  Harbor  Creek,  in 
Cape  Cod  Harbor,  at  Provincetown,  and  appro- 
priated for  that  purpose  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  In  the  year  1868  the  appropriation  was 
increased  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  placed  in  the  hands  of  commissioners, 
who  thereupon  proceeded  to  construct  the  sea- 
wall or  dike,  and  finally  completed  it  successfully 
in  the  year  1869.  Among  the  original  Resolu- 
tions was  one  asserting  that  "  the  appropriation 
hereby  made  is  in  anticipation  of  a  duty  and  ob- 
ligation which  manifestly  belongs  to  the  general 
government  of  the  United  States,  and  which  is 
now  assumed  by  Massachusetts,  in  the  present 
exigency,  relying  upon  ultimate  reimbursement 
therefor."  It  will  be  seen  from  this  that  that 
Legislature  were  clearly  of  the  opinion  that  there 
was  an  exigency  for  completing  the  work;  for, 
although  the  harbor  was  so  much  in  danger,  yet 
the  United  States  had  failed  to  make  the  neces- 
sary appropriations  for  the  purpose.  The  whole 
work,  since  its  completion,  has  been  examined  by 
United  States  engineers,  and  pronounced  by  them 


54  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

to  be  satisfactorily  constructed.  In  the  opinion 
of  some  of  them  at  least,  if  not  all,  the  dike  was 
absolutely  necessary  to  the  preservation  of  the 
harbor.  The  United  States  has  always  assumed 
the  control  and  made  all  the  necessary  expendi- 
tures for  the  preservation  of  all  the  important 
harbors  of  the  country.  It  is  clearly,  then,  the 
duty  of  the  general  government  to  reimburse  the 
State  for  this  expense.  By  the  first  Resolve  it 
was  made  the  duty  of  the  executive  to  request 
our  senators  and  representatives  to  urge  and  se- 
cure the  reimbursement  by  the  United  States  of 
the  amount  expended,  but  the  work  was  not 
completed  in  time  to  be  fully  presented  to  Con- 
gress for  action  during  the  last  session.  If  the 
matter  should  receive  the  early  attention  of  the 
Legislature,  and  a  memorial  be  presented  to  Con- 
gress, stating  the  conditions  of  the  work  and  the 
necessity  of  the  expenditure,  it  would  aid  in  se- 
curing the  payment  of  the  amount  disbursed,  and 
which,  by  every  consideration  of  justice,  is  due 
the  Commonwealth. 

EDUCATION. 

^o   subject  awakens   a   deeper   interest  in  the 
minds  of  the  people  of  this  Commonwealth  than 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  65 

that  of  education.  The  appropriations  for  public 
schools  are  increased  each  year  by  the  cities  and 
towns.  The  systems  of  instruction  are  thoroughly 
discussed  and  examined  by  teachers,  school  boards 
and  persons  interested,  that  new  and  better 
methods  may  be  brought  into  use  and  old  forms 
made  more  effectual.  The  public  school-houses 
attest  the  desire  of  the  people  to  provide  material 
facilities  hitherto  unequalled  and,  imtil  recently, 
unthought  of  by  the  most  enlightened  and  progres- 
sive friends  of  education.  The  salaries  of  teachers 
have  been  increased,  and  although  they  are  still 
too  small  to  induce  a  sufficient  number  of  persons 
to  make  instruction  a  profession,  still  more  men 
and  women  are  now  preparing  than  heretofore  to 
devote  their  lives  to  this  interesting  and  honorable 
vocation. 

Although  the  standard  of  education  has  been 
raised  so  high,  and  the  reputation  of  the  State  is 
unsurpassed  by  that  of  any  other  in  the  Union, 
much  remains  to  be  done  to  perfect  the  system  and 
give  it  wider  scope  and  increased  means  of  useful- 
ness. The  chief  hope  of  our  State  is  in  its  intellec- 
tual development.  From  the  education  of  the 
whole  people  she  has  received  incalculable  bless- 
ings in  the  past,  but  only  by  a  most  watchful  and 


66  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

attentive  care  can  they  be  retained  in  the  future. 
No  outlay  can  bring  such  an  abundant  return, 
even  in  material  wealth,  but  this  is  far  exceeded 
by  the  higher  benefits  received  and  the  nobler 
purposes  inspired  by  the  pursuit  of  knowledge. 

Let  no  demand  for  assistance  in  any  department 
of  instruction  be  met  in  a  parsimonious  spirit,  and 
if  there  is  even  a  promise  of  benefit  in  any  new 
suggestion,  the  experiment  should  have  a  fair  trial. 
Hitherto  our  system  of  education  has  extended 
little  beyond  elementary  principles.  There  is  open 
to  us  a  most  extensive  field  of  usefulness  on  which 
the  future  productive  power  of  the  State  greatly 
depends. 

Our  system  is  deficient  in  technical  instruction; 
we  give  no  special  drill  for  any  particular  trade. 
When  our  children  are  graduated  from  the  public 
schools  they  have  no  preparation,  by  instruction, 
for  any  definite  business.  A  boy  must  choose 
his  occupation  and  fit  himself  for  its  duties  with- 
out other  instruction  than  the  slow  process  of 
experience  and  observation.  In  the  demand  for 
labor  and  the  changed  circumstances  of  the  time 
the  old  apprentice  system  has  passed  away,  and 
there  is  no  convenient  and  proper  substitute. 
I^early  all  of  our  industrial  labor  is  self-taught,  and 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  67 

consequently  in  a  great  degree  unskilful,  compel- 
ling us  to  manufacture  coarser  fabrics,  or  import 
machinery  and  sMUed  laborers  from  Europe. 
The  future  material  success  of  the  State  lies  in  her 
industrial  mechanical  pursuits.  With  small  terri- 
tory and  a  sterile  soil,  a  largely  increased  agricul- 
tural product  cannot  be  expected,  but  other  forms 
of  industry  may  be  extended  indefinitely,  if  we 
educate  our  artisans  and  supply  skilled  laborers 
from  our  own  population.  Each  large  town  should 
have  a  technical  school  established,  to  teach  the 
particular  branches  of  business  followed  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  and  vicinity,  not  only  for 
youth  but  also  for  adults.  From  these  schools 
would  go  forth,  each  year,  graduates  fitted  to  fill 
important  positions  in  our  various  manufactories, 
with  minds  trained  to  apply  the  principles  which 
have  been  slowly  developed  by  their  predecessors 
in  the  school  of  experience.  Technical  schools 
have  been  established  by  law  in  Germany,  Prussia, 
Belgium,  and  other  States  of  Europe,  for  the  ex- 
press object  of  enabling  those  countries  to  compete 
with  their  neighbors  in  all  kinds  of  manufactiu-e. 
They  have  been  very  successful,  and  wherever 
located  the  communities  are  prosperous,  and  the 
business  of  the  town  or  village  enjoying  the  advan- 

8 


58  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

tages  of  a  technical  school,  has  largely  increased. 
In  this  matter  of  technical  education  we  are  far  be- 
hind these  countries.  We  should  be  so  no  longer. 
We  are  liberal  in  our  grants  for  elementary  and 
classical  education;  we  encourage  railroads  and 
other  public  works ;  but  thus  far  we  have  failed  to 
stimulate  and  interest  our  youth  in  those  special 
industries  which  are  to  give  our  State  increase 
in  population  and  material  prosperity.  Perhaps 
it  will  be  found  unnecessary  to  draw  much  money 
from  the  treasury  to  initiate  the  system,  for  the 
end  may  be  accomplished  by  authorizing  the  cities 
and  larger  towns  to  establish  such  schools  as  are 
suited  to  the  business  of  the  locality,  and  sup- 
port them  in  the  same  way  that  other  schools 
are  now  sustained. 

The  theoretical  study  of  music  has  been  intro- 
duced, with  marked  success,  into  the  public  schools 
of  some  of  our  larger  cities  and  towns.  It  may  be 
wise  to  make  this  one  of  the  Jjranches  of  learning 
which  are  required  to  be  taught  in  our  public 
schools. 

The  amount  expended  for  instruc- 

tion^  raised  by  taxation,  is  .  .  $3,125,053  09 
Increase  over  last  year,  .         .        .         201,3M  30 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  59 

Amount  raised  by  taxation,  includ- 
ing income  of  surplus  revenue, 
for  each  child  in  the  State  be- 
tween the  ages  of  five  and  fifteen 
years, $11  54 

Increase  over  last  year,  ...  70 

Percentage  of  the  valuation  of  1865,  appro- 
priated for  public  schools,  three  mills  and  ten 
hundredths.  Increase  over  last  year,  twenty 
hundi-edths. 

The  larger  proportion  of  teachers  are  women, 
and  their  average  wages  per  month  are  only  thirty 
dollars  and  ninety-two  cents.  When  we  consider 
the  care  and  responsibility  which  devolve  upon  the 
teachers,  and  that  comparatively  few  persons  are 
fitted  for  the  profession  when  they  enter  it,  and 
that  they  do  not  intend  to  follow  it  for  any  great 
length  of  time,  we  must  inevitably  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  an-  increase  of  compensation  is 
absolutely  necessary  to  the  continued  success  of 
our  schools.  The  most  costly  instruction  paid  for 
is  that  given  by  inexperienced  and  incompetent 
teachers.  The  scholar  suffers  all  his  life  from  er- 
rors contracted  in  his  youth;  and  often  two  years' 
attendance  at  school  is  of  less  advantage  than  one 


60  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

would  have  been  under  a  competent  and  faithful 
teacher.  A  large  proportion  of  our  teachers  come 
from  the  academies  of  the  State.  They  would  be 
much  benefited  by  attending  a  "training  class" 
before  leaving  school.  These  academies  might  be 
encouraged  to  establish  such  classes  by  a  small 
appropriation  annually,  to  be  expended  under  the 
direction  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

The  Board,  in  their  last  annual  report,  recom- 
mended, after  careful  consideration,  the  establish- 
ment of  a  fifth  IS'ormal  School  at  "Worcester. 
The  people  of  that  city  feel  that  they  have  been 
deprived,  in  a  great  degree,  of  the  benefits  of 
I^ormal  School  instruction.  They  claim  that  the 
!N^ormal  Schools  are  more  accessible  to  the  people 
of  nearly  all  the  other  cities  of  the  Commonwealth 
than  to  them;  that  whUe  there  are  large  numbers 
of  young  persons  in  "Worcester  and  vicinity  who 
would  gladly  prepare  themselves  to  become  teach- 
ers in  their  public  schools,  they  are  unable  to  leave 
home  and  consequently  lose  the  advantages  en- 
joyed by  others.  The  experience  of  the  Board 
shows  that  a  very  large  portion  of  the  pupils  come 
from  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  schools, 
and  that  this  tendency  is  increasing  yearly.  There 
is  a  growing  demand  for  teachers  trained  in  these 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  61 

schools,  and  it  would  seem  to  be  the  dictate  of 
wisdom  to  supply  this  demand,  so  far  as  it  is 
possible. 

The  locations  of  some  of  the  Kormal  Schools  are 
unfortunate,  but  not  so  inconvenient  as  to  make 
their  removal  necessary.  If  they  had  been  placed 
nearer  the  great  centres  of  population,  a  much 
larger  number  of  pupils  would  have  attended  them 
for  the  purpose  of  becoming  teachers.  In  this 
respect  Worcester,  being  the  centre  of  a  dense 
rural  population,  is  very  favorably  situated.  Sev- 
eral important  towns  in  its  vicinity,  as  well  as 
the  city,  would  be  accommodated,  and  from  those 
towns  it  is  confidently  expected  many  pupils  would 
be  received,  giving  promise  of  a  much  larger 
school  than  any  now  established.  The  expense 
of  teaching  three  hundred  pupils  would  be 
but  little  more  than  the  amount  paid  for  in- 
structing half  of  that  number,  which  is  about  the 
present  size  of  the  formal  Schools.  From  these 
considerations  I  am  induced  to  cordially  commend 
the  action  of  the  Board,  and  to  ask  your  favorable 
consideration  of  the  request  of  the  people  of 
"Worcester. 

We  regard  with  the  highest  satisfaction  the 
present  healthful  condition  of  our  colleges,  their 


62  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

constantly  improving  methods  of  instruction,  the 
rising  standard  of  attainments  required  for  en- 
trance, and  the  steady  flow  of  private  beneficence 
for  their  improvement.  Most  of  these  institutions 
are  now  on  a  broad  and  sohd  foundation,  the  result 
of  a  wise  and  faithful  administration  of  the  trusts 
committed  by  the  public  to  their  respective  officers. 
In  the  time  of  their  weakness  the  State  lent  them 
its  efficient  assistance,  but  at  present  I  believe 
there  is  no  new  demand  upon  the  treasury  for  their 
support. 

I  would,  however,  call  special  attention  to  an 
institution  exclusively  in  the  care  of  the  State,  the 
Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  which  has  given 
a  new  impulse  to  the  study  of  natural  sciences  in 
the  United  States.  It  has  widened  the  relations  be- 
tween our  civilization  and  that  of  the  older  nations. 
It  has,  from  its  very  foundation,  made  the  interests 
of  education  one  of  its  chief  objects,  to  which  it 
gives  increasing  attention;  giving  instruction  not 
only  to  special  students,  but  teachers  also  in  the 
various  branches  of  natural  history.  By  its  influ- 
ence it  is  constantly  raising  the  standard  of  culture 
in  Massachusetts,  and  helping  her  to  retain  per- 
manently her  commanding  position  in  matters  of 
education  throughout  the  country. 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  63 

The  growth  of  this  institution  has  been  so 
remarkable  during  the  eleven  years  of  its  existence 
that,  if  duly  supported,  it  will  unquestionably  soon 
take  the  lead  among  the  great  museums  of  the 
world.  I  would,  therefore,  both  for  the  interests 
of  education  and  learning  at  home,  and  for  honor- 
able competition  with  similar  institutions  abroad, 
commend  it  to  your  liberal  assistance. 

It  is  eminently  becoming  in  us  to  recognize  not 
merely  the  genius  and  extraordinary  endowments 
of  the  projector  of  this  institution,  but  also  the 
generous  devotion  to  science  and  the  partiality  ' 
which  led  him  to  select  this  country,  and  especially 
this  State,  as  the  sphere  of  his  invaluable  labors, — 
labors  which  reflect  the  highest  honor  on  himself 
and  on  the  land  of  his  adoption, — ^raising  it  to  a 
high  position  in  the  scientific  world.  We  are  pain- 
fully reminded  by  the  present  state  of  his  health 
that  the  time  for  developing  his  great  idea  and 
executing  the  part  of  the  work  he  has  undertaken, 
is  both  limited  and  of  uncertain  duration.  What 
he  has  to  do  for  us  and  we  for  him  must  be  done 
quickly.  Let  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 
with  a  magnanimous  spirit  meet  the  generous 
foreigner  who  has  left  his  native  land  for  ours, 
and  for  us  refused  the  flattering  offers  of  a  mighty 


64  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

nation,  sacrificing  both  health  and  fortune  for  our 
advancement.  Let  Massachusetts  show  the  world 
that  genius,  generosity  and  science  are  not  un- 
appreciated by  her. 

woman's  suferage. 

Woman's  suffrage  has  recently  been  the  subject 
of  much  public  discussion.  If  brought  to  your 
attention,  no  doubt  you  will  give  it  that  consid- 
eration which  it  properly  deserves.  Certainly 
that  is  no  trifling  matter  which  concerns  the  in- 
terests and  duties  of  more  than  one-half  of 
the  people  of  the  Commonwealth.  The  usages, 
the  sentiments  and  the  teachings  of  past  ages 
are  indeed  in  opposition  to  this  principle,  but 
this  is  an  age  of  change  and  progress.  The 
existence  and  action  of  our  republican  govern- 
ment are  also  in- opposition  to  the  customs  of  the 
majority  of  nations,  past  and  present.  We  are 
accustomed  to  examine  each  question  indepen- 
dently on  its  intrinsic  merits,  and  we  are  not 
bound  by  the  traditions  of  the  past.     , 

With  regard,  then,  to  the  abstract  right,  it  is 
difficult  to  see  why  one  sex  only  should  exercise 
the  privilege  of  voting,  and  there  certainly  are 
many  strong   considerations   why  those   now   ex- 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  65 

clncled  should  be  permitted  to  share  in  public 
affairs.  Whatever  conclusions,  however,  we  may- 
reach  on  this  point,  there  can  be  no  question 
that  great  injustice  is  done  to  woman  by  many 
existing  laws,  and  it  is  our  duty  to  relieve  the 
statute  books  of  these  relics  of  barbaric  ages. 

I  alhide  particularly  to  those  laws  affecting  the 
rights  of  property. 

For  instance:  a  husband  inherits  all  of  his 
wife's  separate  personal  estate,  while  she  under 
like  circumstances  will  inherit  only  one-third  of 
his;  the  husband  can  dispose  of  all  his  personal 
estate  by  will,  but  she  can  devise  no  more  than 
one-half  of  her  separate  estate  without  his  con- 
sent; a  husband's  separate  deed  can  convey  his 
real  estate,  subject  only  to  dower  and  homestead, 
without  her  consent,  but  her  deed  conveying  her 
own  separate  estate  without  his  consent  is  abso- 
lutely void.  The  wife  cannot  convey  her  shares 
in  a  corporation,  neither  can  she  lease  her  separate 
real  estate  for  more  than  one  year,  without  her 
husband's  consent.  ^N'o  such  restriction  attaches 
to  the  husband's  stock  in  corporations,  or  leases  of 
real  estate,  and  while  a  wife  within  a  specified 
time  may  waive  the  provisions  of  her  husband's 
will,    if   it  unjustly  deprives   her    of   her   proper 


66  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

share  of  his  property,  yet  if  she  is  insane  during 
that  period  of  time,  no  such  waiver  can  be  made, 
and  the  unjust  will  must  stand,  so  that  if  the 
death  of  her  husband  causes  her  to  loSe  her 
reason,  she  will  with  it  lose  her  just  share  of 
his  property  also. 

There  are  laws,  also,  affecting  the  rights  of 
woman  in  regard  to  children,  which  bear  severely 
upon  her  in  the  tenderest  relations.  The  courts 
have  often  shielded  her  of  late  years  in  these  mat- 
ters, realizing  doubtless  that  precedent  and  the 
usual  strict  interpretation  of  laws  often  bring  great 
injustice  to  many  worthy  and  suffering  mothers, 
and  lasting  injury  to  children.  All  such  injustice 
and  hardship  should  be  eliminated  from  our  laws, 
and  this  is  peculiarly  your  function.  The  laws  of 
a  State  ought  to  express  the  sentiments  and  opin- 
ions of  the  people,  but  our  statutes  now  fail  to  do 
this  in  many  particulars  deeply  affecting  the  rights 
of  woman. 

THE    LABOR   QUESTION. 

As  the  guardians  of  the  public  welfare,  you 
are  called  upon  to  do  everything  that  legislation 
can  properly  effect,  to  improve  the  physical,  mental 
and  moral  condition  of  your  constituents,  especially 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  67 

of  those  whose  daily  toil  contributes  so  largely  to 
the  prosperity  of  our  vast  manufacturing  interests. 
To  promote  this  end  the  Board  of  Health  are 
actively  pursuing  their  investigations  into  the 
sanitary  condition  of , manufactories  and  the  dwell- 
ings connected  with  them. 

The  Bureau  of  Labor  is  also  particularly  charged 
to  inquire  into  and  secure  the  enforcement  of  laws 
in  regard  to  the  schooling  of  children,  and  to  report 
on  the  general  condition  of  the  productive  industry 
of  the  Commonwealth.  In  the  last  twenty  years, 
legislation  has  been  wise  and  efficient  in  behalf  of 
this  important  interest,  but  there  is  still  room  for 
advance,  and  the  time  has  now  come  to  inquire 
whether  the  hours  of  labor  in  manufactories,  estab- 
lished by  law,  may  not  be  limited  with  great  advan- 
tage to  both  employers  and  the  employed.  Of 
course,  this  does  not  directly  affect  the  question  of 
wages,  which  cannot  properly  be  determined  by 
legislation.  The  report  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor, 
containing  many  interesting  statistical  statements, 
will  soon  be  laid  before  you  for  your  information. 

COMMERCE. 

Representing  a  section  of  the  Union  deeply 
concerned  in  everything  affecting   national  inter- 


68  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

ests,  you  cannot  overlook  the  present  oppressed 
condition  of  American  commerce.  We  were 
gratified  last  year  with  the  prospect  of  immedi- 
ate and  efiicient  action  by  the  general  govern- 
ment in  its  behalf;  but,  although  a  very  able 
committee  has  examined  the  subject,  and  reported 
recommending  that  steps  be  taken  to  this  end, 
yet  nothing  practical  has  been  done,  and  we  are 
apparently  farther  from  a  satisfactory  result  than 
we  were  a  year  since.  Although  this  department 
of  industry  is  conducted  by  individual  enterprise, 
which  should  be  always  encouraged,  it  is  pecu- 
liarly of  national  importance,  and  essential  to  a 
successful  competition  with  other  nations  in  time 
of  peace,  and  to  our  own  safety  in  time  of  war. 
If  there  should  occur  any  occasion  in  which  you 
may  legitimately  act  in  this  matter,  it  will,  I  doubt 
not,  meet  your  prompt  attention. 

LENGTH  OP  SESSIONS. 

A  sense  of  public  duty,  alone,  compels  me  to 
advert  to  the  importance  of  bringing  your  session 
to  an  early  close.  The  length  of  time  devoted  to 
legislation  the  last  two  or  three  years,  has  caused 
great  impatience  among  the  people. 

The  evils  attendant  upon  long  sessions  are  too 


18T1.]  SENATE— No.  1.  69 

apparent  to  be  questioned.  If  there  is  no  way  of 
remedying  the  difficulty,  except  by  a  radical 
change  in  our  constitution,  then  we  should  hasten 
to  adopt  the  system  in  practice  in  many  other 
States  of  biennial   sessions. 

The  conviction  is  prevalent  that  our  General 
Laws  are  well  settled,  and  that  the  constant 
liability  to  change,  incident  to  annual  sessions  half 
a  year  in  length,  is  very  injurious  to  business,  and 
wholly  unnecessary.  Probably  a  legislature  sitting 
once  in  two  years  would  meet  all  the  real  wants  of 
the  community,  ^ow,  there  is  scarcely  time  to 
learn  the  results  of  a  law  before  it  may  be  altered 
or  repealed.  The  cost  of  yearly  sessions  is  a  cir- 
cumstance not  to  be  disregarded,  the  expense  now 
reaching  annually  nearly  four  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  Half  of  this  would  be  saved  to  our  tax- 
payers, already  too  heavily  burdened.  I  leave  the 
matter  for  your  consideration. 

n"Atio:n^al  ATTAms. 

The  people  of  this  State  remember  with  grati- 
tude and  pride  that  they  are  a  part  of  that  nation 
which  was  the  first  to  declare  that  all  men  are  free 
and  equal.  I^o  distinction  of  color  is  recognized 
in  our  laws,  but  every  man   stands   before   them 


70  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

the  peer  of  his  fellow.  After  nearly  a  century  has 
elapsed,  through  much  strife,  sorrow  and  tribula- 
tion, this  dream  of  the  fathers  of  the  Constitution 
has  at  length  become  fixed  and  enthroned  in  the 
hearts  of  the  people. 

This  generation  has  done  a  great  work,  but  they 
will  be  faithless  to  their  own  history,  if  they  pause 
in  their  career  of  mighty  endeavor.  With  unsur- 
passed means  of  intercommunication  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  speaking  the  same  language, 
living  under  the  same  general  laws,  with  ideas  of 
personal  freedom  hitherto  unknown  by  any  nation 
on  earth,  they  have  opportunities  of  public  and 
general  culture  and  of  social  enjoyment  opened  to 
them,  such  as  the  boldest  imagination  dared  not 
assert  as  possible  a  hundred  years  ago.  That 
these  priceless  advantages  may  never  be  lost,  nor 
this  noble  heritage  sacrificed  to  local  jealousies 
and  personal  ambition,  is  the  work  assigned  to 
the  present  generation.  The  men  who  saved  the 
Union  understand  its  value.  We  shall  be  recre- 
ant to  them  and  to  our  duty  if  the  government 
of  this  nation  is  allowed  to  pass  into  the  hands 
of  men  who  will  acknowledge  fellowship  even, 
with  those  who  in  the  very  dawn — as  they  imag- 
ine— of  returning  power,  are  ready  to  tear  from 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  71 

their  resting  places  the  bones  of  the  patriot  sol- 
diers to  whom  the  nation  owes  its  life,  in  order 
that  the  traitors  may  return  to  the  lands  which 
they  left,  to  destroy  the  nation,  and  rivet  the 
chains  of  the  slave.  When  such  impious  desires 
shall  be  no  longer  cherished,  when  the  graves  of 
our  patriot  dead  shall  be  left  undisturbed,  and  the 
voice  of  scorn  shall  be  no  longer  heard  in  our 
land — but  not  till  then — can  the  people  divide  on 
the  minor  issues  of  the  hour  without  fear  that  a 
change  of  rulers  will  destroy  the  honor  and  integ- 
rity of  the  nation,  saved  at  such  terrible  sacrifices 
of  blood  and  treasure. 

We  rejoice  in  the  returning  prosperity  of  that 
part  of  our  country  desolated  by  war,  and  we  hope 
the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  the  spirit  of  strife 
shall  cease,  and  when  even  the  remembrance  of  the 
conflict  shall  fade  away.  Undoubtedly  the  best 
interests  of  the  country  can  be  secured  and  the 
highest  hopes  of  the  people  realized  only  by  their 
having  an  assured  unity. 

We  are  reminded,  not  only  by  our  own  history, 
but  also  by  the  terrible  conflict  now  raging  between 
two  of  the  most  enlightened  nations  of  the  globe, 
of  the  inestimable  value  of  peace.  We  cannot 
deprecate    too    strongly   all    attempts    to    arouse 


72  GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS.  [Jan. 

amongst  us  a  spirit  of  hostility  towards  other 
nations.  The  middle  classes  of  the  people  of 
Europe  look  to  America  as  their  refuge  from 
tyranny,  and  as  the  home  of  the  poor.  They 
were  our  friends  in  the  darkest  days  of  the  rebel- 
lion. In  Great  Britain,  even  amid  the  extreme 
sufferings  caused  by  the  continuance  of  our  strug- 
gle, they  constrained  their  rulers  to  observe  neu- 
trality, and  they  in  the  end  will  compel  their 
government  to  render  us  the  meed  of  justice. 
Upon  them  would  fall  the  horrors  of  war  in 
any  contest  with  us,  and  we  should  be  slow  to 
weaken  their  confidence  in  our  magnanimity,  or 
give  to  their  opponents  the  long  sought  opportu- 
nity of  attaining  power,  and  thus  increasing  the 
danger  of  war  by  postponing  the  settlement  of 
the  questions  in  dispute  between  the  two  coun- 
tries. 

Senators  and  Bepresentatives : 

You  meet  under  most  favorable  circumstances, 
in  a  State  rich  with  memorials  of  the  past,  strong 
in  resources,  full  of  enterprise  and  blessed  with 
high  civilization.  The  recent  census  shows  a 
steady  advance  in  her  population,  in  which  she 
compares  favorably  with  the  new  States   of  the 


1871.]  SENATE— No.  1.  73 

West.  Yours  is  now  the  opportunity  to  extend 
the  application  of  those  principles  of  govern- 
ment which  have  given  to  the  Commonwealth 
unviable  renown  abroad,  and  to  her  citizens  at 
home  blessings  innumerable. 

Let  us  be  faithful  to  our  high  trusts,  believing 
that  in  the  end  we  shall  meet  the  approval  of  our 
constituents  and  receive  the  benediction  of  Heaven. 


10 


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■J^'GSnu^ 


